What is the function of melanin?

In its various forms, melanin fulfills a variety of biological functions, including skin and hair pigmentation and photoprotection of the skin and eye. Pigmentation of the skin results from the accumulation of melanin-containing melanosomes in the basal layer of the epidermis.

What is melanin and why is it important?

Melanin provides pigmentation to your skin, eyes and hair. The substance also absorbs harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays and protects your cells from sun damage.

Where is melanin found in the body?

skin
Melanin is formed primarily in the melanocyte, located in the inner layers of the skin where melanin and carotene blend to produce the skin color as well as the color in the eyes and hair. Red hair is produced by pheomelanin in spherical melanosomes (melanin granules).

What is melanin made of?

Melanin Chemical Structure Like many substances in the body, the chemical makeup of melanin includes a mixture of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. The melanin chemical formula is C18H10N2O4, giving melanin a molecular weight, or molar mass, of 318 grams per mole (g/mol).

What cells produce melanin?

Melanocyte is a highly differentiated cell that produces a pigment melanin inside melanosomes. This cell is dark and dendritic in shape. Melanin production is the basic function of melanocyte.

How does melanin protect cells?

Melanin is considered to protect human skin against DNA damage by absorbing UV radiation. We have investigated whether melanin can, in addition, offer protection against the effects of H(2)O(2) in human melanocytes and HaCaT keratinocytes.

Which things contain melanin?

Melanin is a skin pigment. It occurs in both humans and animals, and is what makes hair, skin, and eyes appear darker. Research has found that melanin may help protect the skin from UV rays.

Which cells produce melanin?

What layer is melanin?

Your epidermis is the outermost layer of skin on your body. It protects your body from harm, keeps your body hydrated, produces new skin cells and contains melanin, which determines the color of your skin.

How is melanin made by cells?

Melanin is produced through a multistage chemical process known as melanogenesis, where the oxidation of the amino acid tyrosine is followed by polymerization. The melanin pigments are produced in a specialized group of cells known as melanocytes. Functionally, melanin serves as protection against UV radiation.

Why melanin is produced?

The purpose of melanin is to protect your skin from sun damage. When you’re exposed to the sun, your skin creates even more melanin. Wearing sunscreen will limit this process. Sunscreen protects the skin from UV rays, which slow down your melanin production.